MALDIVES
195. The Annual Report makes scant mention of human
rights abuses in the Maldives, but the Commonwealth Human Rights
Initiative (CHRI) says: "The Maldives is plagued by human
rights violations and disregard for the principles for participatory
democratic governance and the rule of law. The press faces harassment
and
civil society faces restrictions."[263]
196. CHRI goes on to say: "A clear and strong
public statement is required to send a message to the Maldivian
administration and other Commonwealth nations that actions that
violate the Harare Principles are unacceptable and will not be
overlooked by the Commonwealth. Continued silence implies acceptance
and risks damaging the Commonwealth's reputation for membership
being dependent on the principles of democracy and human rights
articulated in the Harare Declaration."[264]
197. We conclude that the Government should include
more information in the next Annual Report on the human rights
situation in the Maldives.
NEPAL
198. The Annual Report has a short section on human
rights in Nepal which tackles the proliferating concerns since
the dismissal of Nepal's government and the assumption of power
by King Gyanendra in February 2005. The King pledged that municipal
elections would take place in February 2006; [265]
these took place but a very low turnout of less than 20%, a general
strike and allegations of intimidation by both the Maoists and
the Government, which won overwhelmingly, raised serious doubts
about the elections.[266]
Parliamentary elections are due no later than April 2007, but
at present the King continues to govern without democratic constraint.[267]
The King's takeover was in response to the growing Maoist insurgency
which has strengthened over the last few years, and has added
to growing concerns that both the Nepali government and the Maoist
insurgents carry out frequent abuses of human rights, such as
torture, disappearances, beatings, and targeted attacks on journalists,
human rights defenders and political activists.[268]
199. The United Kingdom reacted strongly to the February
2005 coup. The UK recalled its ambassador for consultations, appointed
a human rights adviser to its post in Kathmandu and decided "to
withdraw its plans to donate a further package of non-military
assistance to Nepal."[269]
Kate Allen of Amnesty International told us: "We see a situation
of 200,000 people displaced. We know of 400 people, named people,
who have disappeared. There is an absolute climate of fear."[270]
200. The FCO wrote to us on the question of human
rights in Nepal, saying: "The human rights situation has
been steadily deteriorating for several years and we remain deeply
concerned by the serious abuses that are still being carried out
by the Maoists and the security forces. The UN Special Rapporteur
on Torture, Manfred Nowak, visited Nepal in September and his
preliminary report indicated widespread and systematic use of
torture by Nepalese security forces."[271]
The letter also pointed to the United Kingdom's role as holder
of the EU presidency in an EU visit to Nepal, during which the
delegation made a strong public statement calling for the reinstitution
of human rights standards, and democracy, and for an end to Maoist
acts of terrorism. [272]
201. The letter went on to deal with the question
of military support "On the issue of military assistance,
this has been significantly reduced since the King took power
on 1 February [2005]. Our military assistance was always predicated
on the maintenance of basic democratic structures and procedures
Following
the imposition of the State of Emergency
we
withdrew proposals for a substantial further package of military
assistance
At present we provide only very modest levels
of assistance to the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA)
This consists
of bomb disposal equipment, human rights advice and training and
a handful of general professionalism courses." [273]
The situation has not improved; on 19 January 2006 the Foreign
Office Minister with responsibility for Nepal, Dr Howells, issued
a statement condemning the arrest of political opponents.[274]
202. We conclude that the Government should maintain
pressure on the King of Nepal to reintroduce democracy and to
work to establish human rights standards throughout Nepal. We
also condemn the bloody acts of terrorism perpetrated by the Maoist
insurgents in Nepal. We recommend that the Government maintain
only limited military assistance to the Nepali government until
accountable government is reinstituted.
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Human Rights Annual Report 2005, p 71 Back
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Foreign Affairs Committee, Fourth Report of Session 2004-5, Human
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Ev 24 Back
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205
Uncorrected transcript of oral evidence taken before the Foreign
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206
Q 45 Back
207
Ev 85 Back
208
Ev 21 Back
209
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Ev 133 Back
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Q 144 Back
214
HC Deb,10 January 2006, Col 151 Back
215
Human Rights Annual Report 2005, p 67 Back
216
HC Deb, 18 January 2006, Col 274WH Back
217
Ev 104 Back
218
Ev 105 Back
219
Ev 22 Back
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Q 54 Back
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Q 146 Back
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Q 55 Back
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Ev 16 Back
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Q 56 Back
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Amnesty International: Saudi Arabia, at www.amnesty.org Back
232
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233
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Human Rights Annual Report 2005, p 34 Back
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Q 57-58 Back
236
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238
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Human Rights Annual Report 2005, p 36-8 Back
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Human Rights Annual Report 2005, p 40 Back
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249
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250
Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Response of the Secretary
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254
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255
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256
Human Rights Annual Report 2005, p 43 Back
257
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258
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259
Ev 91, para 3 Back
260
Ev 122 Back
261
Ev 69 Back
262
Ev 69 Back
263
Ev 103 Back
264
Ev 102 Back
265
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266
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267
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questioned", BBC News Online, 19 September 2005, news.bbc.co.uk Back
268
Human Rights Annual Report 2005, p 70 Back
269
Human Rights Annual Report 2005, p 71 Back
270
Q 65 Back
271
Ev 69 Back
272
Ev 69 Back
273
Ev 70 Back
274
"Foreign office minister condemns political arrests in Nepal",
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